Variable speed endless conveyor

ABSTRACT

The conveyor is constituted by an endless chain in the form of a horizontal closed loop. It is formed by at least one set of bars comprising a first series of bars and a second series of bars elastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in the vertical plane, the bars of the first series being articulated on the bars of the second series, on one hand in the vicinity of the ends and on the other hand in the vicinity of the middle, thereby forming an uninterrupted sequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides of a given diamond are obtained by means of four different bars. Means are provided for driving the chain, at low speed in at least two zones of a first type in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly to their forward direction, and at high speed in at least two other zones of a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in the forward direction. The speed of the chain varies in continuous manner in the portions of the chain situated between the two types of zones, the said bars bearing plate elements which partly overlap to form a horizontal receiving surface of continuous general configuration.

United States Patent 1 Colombot Jan.9,1973

[541 VARIABLE SPEED ENDLESS CONVEYOR [76] Inventor: Pierre Colombot, 32,avenue de Bretigny, Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, France 22 Filed: Dec. 2, 197021 Appl. No.: 94,425

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Gerald M. ForlenzaAssistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [57]ABSTRACT The conveyor is constituted by an endless'chain in the form ofa horizontal closed loop. It is formed by at least one set of barscomprising a first series of bars and a second series of barselastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in the verticalplane, the bars of the first series being articulated on the bars of thesecond series, on one hand in the vicinity of the ends and on the otherhand in the vicinity of the middle, thereby forming an uninterruptedsequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides of a givendiamond are obtained by means of four different bars. Means are providedfor driving the chain, at low speed in at least two zones of a firsttype in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly to theirforward direction, and at high speed in at least two other zones of asecond type in which the diamonds are flattened in the forwarddirection. The speed of the chain varies in continuous manner in theportions of the chain situated between the two types of zones, the saidbars bearing plate elements which partly overlap to form a horizontalreceiving surface of continuous general configuration.

21 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9l973 3.709150 sum 3 or 7 IIIII I!!! lllrrllll IIIIVIIIIII I1 I x Z8 Z9 Z6 Z7 Z2 23 13 PATENTEDJAH 9ms 3.709.150

SHEEI 5 [IF 7 PATENTEDJAN ems 3.709150 SHEET 6 [1F 7 VARIABLE SPEEDENDLESS CONVEYOR ficulty in spite of the continuous movement of thecon-- veyor.

It has a special object of providing a conveyor of the type concernedwith responds better than those already existing to the variousdesiderata of practice, especially as regards simplicity of structure,safety of operation and cost price.

The conveyor according to the invention, which has the form of anendless chain in the form of a horizontal closed loop, is characterizedby the fact that it is formed by at least one set of bars elasticallydeformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in the vertical plane,these bars being articulated on one another, on one hand in the vicinityof the ends and on the other hand in the vicinity of the middle, therebyforming an uninterrupted succession of curvilinear diamonds so that thefour sides of a given diamond are obtained by means of four differentbars, means being provided to drive the chain, at low speed in at leasttwo zones of a first type in which the diamonds are flattenedperpendicularly to their direction of advance, and at high speed in atleast two other zones of a second type in which the diamonds areflattened in the direction of advance, the speed of the chain varying incontinuous manner in the portions of the chain situated between the twotypes of zones, the said bars bearing plate elements, like scales ortiles, which partially overlap to form a horizontal receiving surface ofcontinuous general configuration.

This conveyor hence resembles a moving carpet capable of being stretchedand of being compressed, so that when its compressed parts are moved ata certain speed, its stretched parts are moved at a greater speed.

In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor comprises a handrail constitutedby telescopic tubular elements driven in synchronism with thecorresponding portions of the conveyor chain that they accompany.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the detaileddescription which follows. This additional description relates toseveral embodiments of the conveyor according to the invention givenpurely by way of illustrative but non-limiting example, and withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the whole of one embodiment of aconveyor according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows, ona largerscale and with more details, a portion of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a constituent part of a conveyoraccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows on a larger scale a partial section along the line IVIV ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line VV of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show schematically in section perpendicularly to thedirection of advance in a rectilinear advancing zone, a conveyoraccording to the invention and constructed according to two variations;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the constituent parts of anembodiment of a conveyor according to the invention corresponding to thevariants of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing schematically constituent parts of theconveyor at different points of its path,

FIGS. 10, lland 12 show on a larger scale details of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 shows in diagrammatic perspective a portion of aconveyor'according to the invention arranged in accordance with avariant;

FIGS. 14 and 15 show, respectively along the lines XIV-XIV of FIG. 15and XV-XV of FIG. 14, a constituent part of a conveyor constructedaccording to the invention, and-lastly,

FIG. 16 shows a detail of FIG. 14 in another position.

The embodiment of the variablespeed continuous conveyor shownschematically as a whole in FIG. I is intended, for example, for thetransportation of persons. It comprises an endless chain in the form ofa horizontal closed loop formed from at least one set of bars auch as 2and 3 (see also FIG. 2), elastically deformable in the horizontal planebut rigid in the vertical plane, these bars being articulated on oneanother, on one hand in the vicinity of their ends, and on the otherhand in the vicinity of their middle, thereby forming an uninterruptedseries of curvilinear diamonds so that each of the sides of a givendiamond belongs to a different bar.

Means which will be more explicitly consideredare in addition providedto drive the chain at low speed in at least two zones of a first type inwhich the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly to the direction ofadvance and, on the other hand, at high speed "in at least two otherzones of a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in thedirection of advance, the speed of the chain varying in continuousmanner in those of its parts which are situated between two types ofabovesaid zones.

In the example shown, the .loop formed by the endless chain 1 isflattened so as to have two neighboring parallel strands 6,7 whichconstitute the abovesaid zones of the second type, that is to say theprincipal portion of the conveyor, and which are linked at their ends bytwo portions 8,9 substantially in the form of semi-circles constitutingthe abovesaid zones of the first type. For the sake of clarity inthe'drawing and also because, in the example selected, the conveyorconstitutes a relay of a rapid moving carpet, as will be explainedbelow, that in FIG. 1, the two rectilinear strands 6 and 7 of theconveyor have been shown very short, but they could very well be of muchgreater length in the case of utilization without a rapid moving carpet.

The articulations of at least one of the ends of .the constituent barsof the chain bear roller means and guidance means co-operating with aguide which is situated inside or outside the loop and which follow thecontour which merges with the corresponding edge of the loop formed bythe constituent chain of conveyor.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, bars such as 2, 2A, 2B, 2C,etc. inclined in' one direction constitute together a first series ofbars, and bars such as 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, etc. inclined in the otherdirection constitute together a second series of bars. On the inner sideof the loop, two successive bars belong respectively to two series ofbars, for example the bars 3 and 2B, are articulated on one another inthe neighborhood of their corresponding ends by a vertical axle such as12 engaged in a first guide or lower guide 13. In similar manner, twosuccessive bars, such as 2A and 3A, belonging respectively also to twoseries of bars, articulated in the neighborhood of their correspondingends, on the outside of the loop, on a vertical axle such as 15 engagedin a second guide or outer guide 16. The inner guide 13 and the outerguide 16 follow the general configuration of the whole of the conveyorand in this example, they each have a section in the shape of a U. lnFIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown diagrammatically, on a larger scale, theshape and arrangement of the inner guide 13. The axle 12 on which arearticulated the two bars 3 and 2B is extended, at its lower part, by aninclined fork 21 of which the two arms are traversed by an axle 22 onwhich is mounted a roller 23 which rests in the bottom of the guide 13.This roller is hence oriented by and supports the articulation axlechain of the bars whilst the chain moves. The axle 13 bears threehorizontal centering rollers 24,25,26 which roll against thecorresponding horizontal rails 27,28,29 rigidly fixed to the inner facesof two vertical walls of the guide 13. In the example, the rail 28 isfixed one of the guidewalls, at a level situated between those of thetwo other rails 27 and 29 fixed at the opposite wall of the said guide.

To form the curvilinear diamonds, the bars such as 28 of the firstseries art articulated on the corresponding bars such as 3A of thesecond series, by axles 33 situated in the middle of the length of thesaidbars.

The endless chain can be constituted by several superposed sets of barseach forming an uninterrupted series of diamonds, articulations beingprovided at each crossing of a bar of a given set with a bar of anotherset.

There is thus obtained several sequences of diamonds interlaced with oneanother. On the chain 1,

rest rectangular scales such as 35A (FIG. 3) which are partly covered toform a horizontal receiving surface of continuous general configuration.Each scale such as 35A and 35N for example, is constituted by an angleelement so as to present a sufficient rigidity. As can be seen in thelower sections of FIG. 3, each angle has a large horizontal support wingand a small vertical stiffening 'wing. In this example, for the needs ofassembly of these scales, the chain is formed of several uninterruptedsequences of curvilinear diamonds interlaced in one another. In theembodiment shown, there are two sequences of diamonds, the first beingformed by the bars such as 2A, 3A and 2B, 38 (FIG. 3) and the second bythe bars such as 2M and 3M of which the outer articulation axles, suchas 15M, occur between the articulation axles I and B of the bars of thefirst sequence.

The axles, such as 15M, can be engaged in the outer guide 16. The otherends of the bars which form intermediate diamonds are obviouslyarticulated also on one another'on axles, such as 12M, possibly engagedalso in the corresponding inner guide 13.

Each plate elements, such as 35A, for example, is arranged lengthwisewith respect to the bars of one of the series of bars such as 2A of thefirst set of bars and it is articulated, in the neighborhood of one ofits ends, by an axle 41, on the bar 2A of the first series of bars and,in the neighborhood of its other end, by an axle 42 also on the bar 2Aof this series of bars. So that the system may operate, one of the twoarticulation axles of each plate element such as 35A, for example theaxle 41 borne by the bar 2A, pivots in a cylindrical hole of the plateelement, whicst the other, that is to say the axle 42 can slide in alongitudinal slot 44 of the said plate.

In the embodiment shown, the following plate 35N is articulated, throughits outer end, by means of an axle 46, not on the bar of the firstseries of bars, but on the bar 3A, of the'first series, the other end ofthe said plate element being articulated on an axle 47 borne by a bar 3Nof the first set of bars, this axle 47 being located also in a slot 48of the plate element 35N.

By means. of the fixing of the plate elements thus effected, the latterhave, with respect to one of their positions at a given moment and inthe course of periods of acceleration and of deceleration of the endlesschain, a rotary movement increased by a translatory movement, theresulting movement being such that:

two points placed on two consecutive plate elements, at a same distancefrom the large sides of the plate elements, and situated on a parallelto the axis of the chain remain, in the course of deformation of thechain, on a straight line parallel to the axis of the chain, as a resultof which the foot of a passenger placed in the axis of the conveyor onseveral plate elements at once; does not turn and remains parallel tothe axis of the conveyor in the zones of acceleration and ofdeceleration.

two points placed on two consecutive plate elements at a same distancefrom the large sides of the plate elements and situated on aperpendicular of the axis of the chain remain, in the course of thedeformation of the chain, on a perpendicular to the axis of the chain,due to which two feet placed side by side on a perpendicular to the axisof the chain and on assemblies of different plate elements remain onthis perpendicular in the zones of acceleration or of deceleration.

It is to be noted that it is advantageous to select for the plateelements a size such that they extend beyond the endless chain, whichenables the use, for a given width of conveyor, of a chain ofsubstantially less width, that is to say constituted by means of barsshorter than the plate elements. The extension of the plate elements ispreferably towards the outside of the loop, so as not to risk too greatan overlap of the plate elements in the half-turn zones of the conveyor.The fixations are those described above.

End 8 (FIG. 1) of the conveyor. comprises a loading zone or mountingarea 51 for passengers and a discharge zone or dismounting area 52. In'a similar way, the other end 9 of the'conveyor comprises a loading zoneor mounting area 53 and an unloading zone or dismounting area 54. In theproximal principal portions 6 and'7 of the conveyor, the inner guide 13and the outer guide 16 are parallel and with a minimum spacing, whilst,in the zones or areas of loading and unloading 51 to S4,-they are muchmore separated. This variation in separation is effected in a gradualmanner between the high speed zones 6 and 7 and the slow speed zones 8and 9 to take into account the gradual elongation of the diamonds whichpass from a flat position in the direction of advance to a flat positionperpendicularly to the direction of advance, this modification of shapecorresponding to a gradual variation of the forward speed between therapid zone and the slow zone. As a result, for certain constant givenspeed of the conveyor chain in the main portions 6 and 7, the averagespeed of plate elements in an end zone, such as the loading zone 53 forexample, is constant and much less whilst, in the intermediate zonessuch as zone 57 for example, situated between the loading zone 53 andthe transport zone 6, the average speed of the plate elements isincreasing since the width of the belt diminishes regularly betweenthese two zones. Conversely, in the zone 58 for example, comprisedbetween the transport zone 6 and the unloading zone 52, the averagespeed of the plate elements diminishes gradually.

The endless chain 1 is driven by a continuous movement in the zoneswhere its speed is constant, that is to say, in this example, in the twoprincipal transport zones 6 and 7 are high speed and in the two endzones enlarged in the form of a semi-circle at low speed.

The means used for this purpose can be constituted, for example, belowthis portion of the conveyor, by two perforated belts 61, 62 which pass,respectively, over two drive rollers 63,64 and over two pairs of returnrollers such as 65, 66 for example for the belt 61, which hold the upperstrand of the corresponding belt applied against the lower surface ofthe movable chain of bars. In these perforations, such as 67 forexample, of the belt 61, are engaged lower extensions of the verticalaxles 33 (FIG. 2) of articulation at the center of the bars. Two belts61, 62 are driven in reverse direction by the drive rollers 63, 64self-rotated in reverse direction by an electric motor 71 through atransmission which comprises, in this example, a reducing gearbox 72, abelt transmission 73 and a shaft 74 which passes through a drive gearbox 75 of the shafts of the two rollers.

The drive of the chain at each end, for example the end 8, that is tosay at the level of the slow speed zones, is constituted by a largerhorizontal wheel 78 provided with teeth 79 intended to in mesh with thelower extension of the intermediate axles 33 of the braces. Wheel 78 isrigidly fixed to a vertical shaft 81 coaxial with the semi-circle formedby the end of the conveyor and driven by means of a return gear 82 by ahorizontal longitudinal shaft 83 which turns in synchronism with thedrive shaft 74 of the central part of the chain.

It is due to the fact that the constituent bars of the curvilinear linesare rigid in the vertical plane and elastically deformable only inhorizontal plane that it is possible to ensure the support of the chainsolely by rollers of the type 23 borne by the axles l2 and of the endarticulations without it being necessary to provide support rollers ofthe type generally used in devices of this nature.

To avoid introduction of the forces which could have the effect ofraising the endless chain in the half-turn zones as well as in theacceleration and deceleration zones, it is advantageous to double one ofthe series or sets of bars as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, so that thedoubled bars grip at the level of the end and middle articulations, thebars of the other series or set.

In FIG. 6, 7 and 8 it is assumed that it is the set of bars 2, 2A whichis doubled into bars 2aA, 2bA and B, 2bB gripping the bars 3, 3A.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in that of FIG. 6, it isassumed that the end articulations of the bars bear tracking andguidance means cooperating with two guides 13 and 16 situatedrespectively inside and outside the loop.

middle articulation guide means constituted for example by a roller 25aprovided on the-articulation axle 33 and'cooperating with the guide 17constituted by two angle irons 17a and 17b in the form of an L which arefacing through the small horizontal limb thereby forming a rail of whichthe general shape is that of a U, but leaving between the two smalllimbs of two L a slot through which the axle 33 can pass as shown thefigure.

In the case of the superposition of several sets of bars the said guidemeans can be provided also at the level of articulation of the bars of afirst set on the bars of a second set.

In this embodiment, it suffices to provide at the level of the endarticulations 12 and 15 only, support means for the chain, namelyrollers 23.

In the Figure, there has however been shown, in addition to rollers 23,rollers 25, since it is advantageous to preserve, at least in certainplaces of the loop, lateral guides 13 and '16.

Of course, in this embodiment, the drive is the same as that in FIGS. 1and 2.

To facilitate the operations of mounting and dismounting of thepassengers, there is preferably provided between the slow constant speedzones 8 (or 9) of the conveyor and the variable speed zones 57 and 58rectilinear zones 8a, 8b and 9a, 9b of low constant speed equal to thatof the zones 8 and 9.

To ensure the drive of the conveyor in these zones, recourse is had, asshown in FIG. 13, to an assembly of three endless drive chains denotedrespectively by C C and C of which one, the chain C is situated insidethe loop formed by the zone 8 (or 9) and mates the whole of thesemi-circular shape of the latter, the chains C and C being situatedoutside the loop on a portion of the length of the rectilinear zones ofslow constant speed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the chain C, can be deformed in two orthogonalplanes by passing successively over two pulleys P P and over two pulleysP P of which one is rotated by a motor M. This chain C accompanies theconveyor in the half-turn zone, imposing on it thus the desired degreeof compression in the inner portion at the turn and avoiding too great astraddling of the plate elements.

The chains C and C are conventional endless chains.

Drive means cooperating with the abovesaid chains are provided at thelevel of the end articulations.

In FIG. 7, there is shown curved fingers D borne by the bars 3, 3A andof which the dimensions such that they can mesh with the chains C,, Cand C The chains C, and C are tensioned respectively between two pulleysP P and P P,,, the pulleys P and P, being rotated by two shafts A,.and Akeyed respectively on pulleys P and P The chain C can be held tightenedby means of a fixed guide, known in itself, not shown.

For the safety of the passengers of the conveyor and to avoid especiallyany danger at the end of the journey, the invention provides that theplate elements 35 bear combs P of which the orientation is such thatwhen the conveyor is at its slowest speed, the grooves of the combs oftwo successive plate elements are in extension of one another and occuron a parallel to the axis of the conveyor so that these combs can thencooperate with a fixed comb. P, borne by the arrival platform 0.

In FIG. 9, there is shown diagrammatically, in plan view, differentsections of the conveyor between a zone 6 (or 7) and the beginning of aslow speed rectilinear zone (for example 9a) with the arrival platform Qplaced on the latter, thus showing the rotation of the plate elements,and there is shown on a larger scale in FIGS. 10 to 12 three portionsA,, A and A of the sections concerned, corresponding to differentorientations of the plate elements on the conveyor, these enlarged viewsshowing the corresponding orientations of combs. It is to be noted thatthe combs are slightly inclined over a small dimension of the plateelements, the value of this inclination corresponding to that of thebars on the axis of the transporter at the level of the arrivalplatform. 1

Along each of the edges of the transported, especially (FIG. 1) in plumbwith each other two inner 13 and outer 16 guides, there is provided asubstantially vertical wall 91 over the upper portion of which ahandrail 92 is moved at the same speed as the corresponding portion ofthe chain of the conveyor.

in the example, this handrail is constituted by a succession identicalassemblies 95 (FIG. 14 and of telescopic tubular elements. In theexample, each assembly 95 is constituted by an outer tubular element 96in one half of which can slide, to one another, three inner tubularelements 97, 98, and 99 and, in the other half, three symmetricalelements 97A, 98B and 99A. All these tubular elements are open at theirinner portion, so as to be able to straddle the upper portion of thepartition 91. To this end, each outer end of the inner tubular elementsuch as 99 bears an axle 101 rigidly fixed to two feed 102 of which theinner end is provided with a roller 103 housed in a horizontal slide 104of lying U-shaped section formed on the inner surfaces of the wall 91which is a hollow wall. The inner end of thesecond tube such as 98bears, in a similar manner, an axle 106 bearing two feetl07 providedwith a roller 108 engaged in the same slide 104.

The elongation and shortening of each telescopic assembly 95 is ensuredby two systems of levers.

The first system of levers comprises, for each assembly 95, two levers111, 112 at one of the end of the assembly and two identical otherlevers 113,114 at the other end. The upper end of the lever 1 1 1 isarticulated on the axle 101 rigidly fixed to the inner tube 99, and theupper end of the lever 112 is articulated on the axle ,106 rigidly fixedto the second inner tube 98. The two levers 111, 112 are articulated onone another by their inner ends on an axle 115 provided with a roller116 which is housed in a horizontal guide 118 forming a crosspiece in hethickness of the wall 91. The vertical distance between this guide 118and the upper slide 104 determines the relative position of the two twoinner tubes 99 and 99A with respect to two tubes 98 and 98A in whichthey respectively slide directly.

The relative position of the other tubes, between themselves and withrespect to four tubes 99, 99A, 98,

98A, is ensured by a second system of levers which.

comprises two groups denoted respectively by 121 and 122. For betterunderstanding, the group 121 only is shown schematically in FIG. 16.

The group 121 comprises four large levers 123, 124,

125, 126 and two small levers 127, 128. The upper end of the large lever123 is articulated on an axle 131 on the inner end of the inner tube 99whilst its inner end is articulated by an axle 132 on the lower end ofthe large lever 124. The upper end of the large lever 125 is articulatedon the axle 106 rigidly fixed to the second inner tube 98, whilst itslower end is articulate by an axle 133 on the lower end of the largelever 126. The upper ends of the two large levers 124 and 126 arearticulated, by two axles 134, 135, respectively on the inner end of thethird tube 97 and on the middle of the length of the fourth tube orouter tube 96. The upper end of the small lever 127 is articulated onthe axle 106 and its lower end on an axle 137 situated in the middle ofthe length of the large lever 123. In a similar manner, the other smalllever 128 is articulated, by its upper end, on the axle l34,'and, by itslower end, on an axle 138 situated in the middle of the length of thelarge lever 126. i I

The assembly of levers 121 represented in FIG. -8 is hence formed ofarticulated parallelograms. Now, the horizontal distance between the twoaxles 131 and 106 is a function of the penetration of the inner tube 99into the tube 98 in which it is mounted, so that any variation of thisdistance determines a corresponding variation between the axles 106 and134 on one hand, and the axles 134 and 135 on the other hand, whichdetermines the relative longitudinal positions of the tube 97 withrespect to the tube 98, and of the tube 96 with respect to the tube 97.

The drive of the ramp is effected, in the zones where this ramp is movedat constant speed, for example, by a chain 141 which slides at constantspeed in an inner horizontal guide 142, the linkage between the chain141 and the ramp being effected, for example, by the engagement of oneaxle such as 144 fixed at the middle of-the lever 11] and engaged in alink of the said chain.

Each telescopic tubular assembly 95 is connected to the following one,for example by a ball-joint system constituted by a male ball 151 formedat an outer end of the inner tube 99A and by a correspondingfemale part152 formed in the adjacent end of the inner tube of the followingassembly.

The operation of the assembly of the conveyor is as follows: t

The chain 1 being driven at constant speed, as explained above, theplate elements are oriented substantially lengthwise overvthe principalportions 6 and 7 of the conveyor and are actuated with a relatively highspeed of translation, whilst, in the enlarged portions 8 and 9 of thetwo ends of the conveyor, they are, on the other hand, substantiallycrosswise and ,they are actuated with a relatively slow speed ofdisplacement. The variation in speed between the principal transportzone and the loading and unloading zones is effected gradually by zonesof gradually increasing width when it relates to deceleration orprogressively decreasing when it relates to acceleration. The passengersget on for example at the area 51, then are transported by the narrowprincipal zone 7 and arrive at the area 54 of large width, from whichthey can easily dismount.

By way of example, there is shown a complementary arrangement comprisingtwo rolling carpets 161, 162, (FIG. 1) which extend respectively alongthe principal portions 6 and 7 of the conveyor, for example at a speedequal to that of the said conveyor, the latter serving as intermediatemeans or relay to pass the passengers from the ground on to the rollingcarpet 161 or even from this rolling carpet to the ground. There isindicated, at 163 and 164, the handrails of the two supplementaryrolling carpets 161, 162.

There can be envisage, for example, the provision of three conveyorsarranged in series, namely: afirst variable speed conveyor, for exampleof the type described above, covering a range of speeds of the order of2 to 12 km/h, a second variable speed conveyor covering a rang of speedsof the order of 12 to 60 km/h, and a third conveyor constituted by aconstant speed carpet of about 60 km/h for example.

This being the case, there is provided a conveyor of the type concerned,of which the features emerge sufficiently from the preceding descriptionfor it to be unnecessary to dwell on this subject and which has, withrespect to those pre-existing, numerous advantages, such as that beingsimple in construction, of very great robustness and of being ofrelatively low cost price.

As is self-evident, and as emerges already from the precedingdescription, the invention is in no way limited to those of its methodsof application, nor to those of its methods of production of its variousparts, which have been more particularly indicated; it embraces, on thecontrary, all variations, especially,

that in which the mobile chain of support bars of the plate elementswould be driven by friction on mobile horizontal belts, and

that in which the endless loop formed by the chain would have a generalconfiguration approximating, for example, that of a correspondingcircumference, for example, to the perimeter of a large exhibition.

What is claim is:

1. Variable speed endless conveyor constituted by an endless chain inthe form of a horizontal closed loop, said loop being formed by at leastone set of bars comprising a first series of bars and a second series ofbars elastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid inthevertical plane, the bars of the first series being articulated on thebars of the second series, in the vicinity of the ends of the bars andin the vicinity of the middles of the bars, thereby forming anuninterrupted sequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides ofa given diamond are constituted by four different bars each bar formingpart of two consecutive diamonds, means being provided for driving thechain in a direction along the loop, at low speed in at least two zonesof a first type in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly tothe direction along theloop, and at high speed in at least two otherzones of a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in thedirection along the loop, the speed of the chain varying in continuousmanner in the portions of the chain situated between the two types ofzones, the said bars bearing plate elements which partly overlap andremain throughout said loop in the same substantially horizontal planeto form a horizontal receiving surface of continuous generalconfiguration.

2. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the loop formed by the chainis flattened and comprises two neighboring parallel strands and twoportions substantially in the form of semi-circles.

3. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the endless chain isconstituted by several sets of superposed bars each set forming anuninterrupted sequence of diamonds, articulations being provided at eachcrossing of a bar of a given set with a bar of another set.

4. Variable speed endless conveyor constituted by an endless chain inthe form of a horizontal closed loop, said loop being formed by at leastone set of bars comprising a first series of bars and a second series ofbars elastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in thevertical plane, the bars of the first series being articulated on thebars of the second series, in the vicinity of the ends of the bars andin the vicinity of the middles of the bars, thereby forming anuninterrupted sequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides ofa given diamond are constituted by four different bars each bar formingpart of two consecutive diamonds, means being provided for driving thechain in a direction along the loop, at low speed in at least two zonesof a first type in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly tothe direction along the loop, and at high speed inat least two otherzones of a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in thedirection along the loop, the speed of the chain varying in continuousmanner in the portions of the chain situated between the two types ofzones, the said bars bearing plate elements which partly overlap andremain throughout said loop in the same substantially horizontal planeto form a horizontal receiving surface of continuous generalconfiguration, wherein the end of a plate element of an odd row whichoccurs on the inner side of the loop is articulated on a bar of thefirst series of a first set and its opposite end is also articulated onthe same bar of the first series of the first set, whilst the ends of aplate element of an even row which occurs also on the inner side of theloop is articulated on one of the bars of a second set and its oppositeend on a bar of the second series of the first set. g

5. Conveyor according to claim 4, wherein one of the ends of each plateelement is articulated on the corresponding bar through an axlemounted'so as to be able to undergo a slight translation movement in thedirection of the length of said plate element.

6. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the articulations of at leastone of the ends of the constituent bars of the chain bear roller meansand guide means cooperating with a guide which is situated inside oroutside the loop and which follows a contour which merges with thecorresponding edge of the loop formed by the chain constituting theconveyor.

7. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the chain bears at the levelof the middle articulation of the bars, guide means cooperating with aguide, the end articulations of the bars bearing roller means whichsupport the chain.

8. Conveyor according to claim 7, wherein the roller means provided atthe end articulations of the bars are arranged so that they cancooperate with lateral guides provided at least at certain places of theloop formed by the chain.

- 9. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein each guide has a U-shapesection, roller and support means borne by the end articulationscomprising a vertical axle of which the lower end is provided with anorientable roller resting in the bottom of a lateral guide the guidemeans borne by the articulations being constituted by at least onedirecting roller co-operating with two inner lateral faces of the saidguide, if necessary with the interposition of projecting horizontalrails.

10. Conveyor according to claim 1, when the drive of the chain isensured by mobile drive elements in engagement with lower extensions ofthe middle articulation axles of the constituent barsof the said chainand described a path corresponding to that of the said axles, under theaction of motor means to which they are connected.

l1. Conveyor according to claim 10, wherein the mobile drive elements,arranged under parallel strands of the chain are constituted by aperforated belt or a horizontal endless chain of which the upper strandis in engagement with the lower extensions of the middle articulationaxles of the chain.

12. Conveyor according to claim 10, wherein the mobile drive elements,arranged under each of the two end portions substantially in the form ofsemi-circles of the chain, are constituted by a gear wheel which isborne by a vertical drive shaft coaxial with the correspondingsemicircle and of which the teeth are in engagement with the lowerextensions of the middle articulation axles of the chain.

13. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the bars of one of the twoseries of bars which form successive diamonds of the chain are double sothat they grip at the level of the articulations of the bars of thesecond series of bars.

14. Conveyor according to claim I, wherein the loop comprisesrectilinear zones of slow constant speed between circular zones of slowconstant speed and zones of variable speed which connect them torectilinear zones of high speed.

15. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the drive means for thesemicircular zone and the constant low speed rectilinear adjacent zonescomprise three drive chains of which one is situated inside the loop andcorresponds in shape with the whole of the semi-circular shape of thelatter, the two others being situated outthe combs of two successiveplate elements are in ex-v tension of one another and occur over aparallel to the axis of the conveyor so that the combs borne by theplate elements can then cooperate with a fixed comb borne by the arrivalplatform.

18. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the plate elements bound thesurface limited by the diamonds towards the outside of the loop.

Conveyor according to claim l,'comprismg a handrail constituted bytelescopic tubular elements driven in synchronism with the correspondingportions of the conveyor chain which accompany them.

20. Conveyor according to claim 19, wherein the telescopictubularelements which constitute the handrail comprise a series ofidentical assemblies each of which is formed by at least two telescopictubular elements of which the open lower portion slides on a sub;stantially vertical fixed wall, the longitudinal linkage between thesetwo elements being ensured by two levers articulated on one another andbearing a roller which rolls against a fixed ramp of which the distanceto the upper portion of the aforesaid fixed wall is, at each point ofthe conveyor, a function of the relative position of the plate elements,the drive of the handrail being ensured in constant speed zones by anendless inextensible flexible link which is moved along the fixedvertical partition at the speed of the endless drive chain of the plateelements and which is connected to a point of each assembly oftelescopic tubular elements of the handrail.

21. Conveyor according to claim-20 in which each assembly of telescopictubular elements of the handrail comprises more than two elements,wherein the supplementary elements are connected between themselves andto twofirst elements by a system of articulated braces.

1. Variable speed endless conveyor constituted by an endless chain inthe form of a horizontal closed loop, said loop being formed by at leastone set of bars comprising a first series of bars and a second series ofbars elastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in thevertical plane, the bars of the first series being articulated on thebars of the second series, in the vicinity of the ends of the bars andin the vicinity of the middles of the bars, thereby forming anuninterrupted sequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides ofa given diamond are constituted by four different bars each bar formingpart of two consecutive diamonds, means being provided for driving thechain in a direction along the loop, at low speed in at least two zonEsof a first type in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly tothe direction along the loop, and at high speed in at least two otherzones of a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in thedirection along the loop, the speed of the chain varying in continuousmanner in the portions of the chain situated between the two types ofzones, the said bars bearing plate elements which partly overlap andremain throughout said loop in the same substantially horizontal planeto form a horizontal receiving surface of continuous generalconfiguration.
 2. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the loop formedby the chain is flattened and comprises two neighboring parallel strandsand two portions substantially in the form of semi-circles.
 3. Conveyoraccording to claim 1, wherein the endless chain is constituted byseveral sets of superposed bars each set forming an uninterruptedsequence of diamonds, articulations being provided at each crossing of abar of a given set with a bar of another set.
 4. Variable speed endlessconveyor constituted by an endless chain in the form of a horizontalclosed loop, said loop being formed by at least one set of barscomprising a first series of bars and a second series of barselastically deformable in the horizontal plane but rigid in the verticalplane, the bars of the first series being articulated on the bars of thesecond series, in the vicinity of the ends of the bars and in thevicinity of the middles of the bars, thereby forming an uninterruptedsequence of curvilinear diamonds so that the four sides of a givendiamond are constituted by four different bars each bar forming part oftwo consecutive diamonds, means being provided for driving the chain ina direction along the loop, at low speed in at least two zones of afirst type in which the diamonds are flattened perpendicularly to thedirection along the loop, and at high speed in at least two other zonesof a second type in which the diamonds are flattened in the directionalong the loop, the speed of the chain varying in continuous manner inthe portions of the chain situated between the two types of zones, thesaid bars bearing plate elements which partly overlap and remainthroughout said loop in the same substantially horizontal plane to forma horizontal receiving surface of continuous general configuration,wherein the end of a plate element of an odd row which occurs on theinner side of the loop is articulated on a bar of the first series of afirst set and its opposite end is also articulated on the same bar ofthe first series of the first set, whilst the ends of a plate element ofan even row which occurs also on the inner side of the loop isarticulated on one of the bars of a second set and its opposite end on abar of the second series of the first set.
 5. Conveyor according toclaim 4, wherein one of the ends of each plate element is articulated onthe corresponding bar through an axle mounted so as to be able toundergo a slight translation movement in the direction of the length ofsaid plate element.
 6. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein thearticulations of at least one of the ends of the constituent bars of thechain bear roller means and guide means cooperating with a guide whichis situated inside or outside the loop and which follows a contour whichmerges with the corresponding edge of the loop formed by the chainconstituting the conveyor.
 7. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein thechain bears at the level of the middle articulation of the bars, guidemeans cooperating with a guide, the end articulations of the barsbearing roller means which support the chain.
 8. Conveyor according toclaim 7, wherein the roller means provided at the end articulations ofthe bars are arranged so that they can cooperate with lateral guidesprovided at least at certain places of the loop formed by the chain. 9.Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein each guide has a U-shape section,roller and support means borne by the end articulatioNs comprising avertical axle of which the lower end is provided with an orientableroller resting in the bottom of a lateral guide the guide means borne bythe articulations being constituted by at least one directing rollerco-operating with two inner lateral faces of the said guide, ifnecessary with the interposition of projecting horizontal rails. 10.Conveyor according to claim 1, when the drive of the chain is ensured bymobile drive elements in engagement with lower extensions of the middlearticulation axles of the constituent bars of the said chain anddescribed a path corresponding to that of the said axles, under theaction of motor means to which they are connected.
 11. Conveyoraccording to claim 10, wherein the mobile drive elements, arranged underparallel strands of the chain are constituted by a perforated belt or ahorizontal endless chain of which the upper strand is in engagement withthe lower extensions of the middle articulation axles of the chain. 12.Conveyor according to claim 10, wherein the mobile drive elements,arranged under each of the two end portions substantially in the form ofsemi-circles of the chain, are constituted by a gear wheel which isborne by a vertical drive shaft coaxial with the correspondingsemicircle and of which the teeth are in engagement with the lowerextensions of the middle articulation axles of the chain.
 13. Conveyoraccording to claim 1, wherein the bars of one of the two series of barswhich form successive diamonds of the chain are double so that they gripat the level of the articulations of the bars of the second series ofbars.
 14. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the loop comprisesrectilinear zones of slow constant speed between circular zones of slowconstant speed and zones of variable speed which connect them torectilinear zones of high speed.
 15. Conveyor according to claim 1,wherein the drive means for the semicircular zone and the constant lowspeed rectilinear adjacent zones comprise three drive chains of whichone is situated inside the loop and corresponds in shape with the wholeof the semi-circular shape of the latter, the two others being situatedoutside the loop on a portion of the length of the two constant speedrectilinear zones, said chains co-operating with drive means provided atthe level of the end articulations.
 16. Conveyor according to claim 15wherein the drive means are constituted by hooks borne by one of theseries of bars forming diamonds.
 17. Conveyor according to claim 1,wherein the plate elements bear combs whose orientation is such that,when the conveyor is at its lowest speed, the grooves of the combs oftwo successive plate elements are in extension of one another and occurover a parallel to the axis of the conveyor so that the combs borne bythe plate elements can then cooperate with a fixed comb borne by thearrival platform.
 18. Conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the plateelements bound the surface limited by the diamonds towards the outsideof the loop.
 19. Conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a handrailconstituted by telescopic tubular elements driven in synchronism withthe corresponding portions of the conveyor chain which accompany them.20. Conveyor according to claim 19, wherein the telescopic tubularelements which constitute the handrail comprise a series of identicalassemblies each of which is formed by at least two telescopic tubularelements of which the open lower portion slides on a substantiallyvertical fixed wall, the longitudinal linkage between these two elementsbeing ensured by two levers articulated on one another and bearing aroller which rolls against a fixed ramp of which the distance to theupper portion of the aforesaid fixed wall is, at each point of theconveyor, a function of the relative position of the plate elements, thedrive of the handrail being ensured in constant speed zones by anendless inextensible flexible link which is moved along the fixedvertical partition at the speeD of the endless drive chain of the plateelements and which is connected to a point of each assembly oftelescopic tubular elements of the handrail.
 21. Conveyor according toclaim 20 in which each assembly of telescopic tubular elements of thehandrail comprises more than two elements, wherein the supplementaryelements are connected between themselves and to two first elements by asystem of articulated braces.